One-point recalibration method for reducing error in concentration measurements for an electrolytic solution

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method for mathematically re-calibrating and adjusting an initial concentration analysis model that suffers from electrochemical measurement errors caused by surface state changes in the working/counter/reference electrode after extended usage. Specifically, such recalibration method reimburses long-term drift in the electrochemical measurements based on a single point testing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for determining the concentrations of one or more components in an electrolytic solution, especially in a copper electrochemical deposition solution.

2. Description of the Related Art

In electrochemical deposition (ECD) process, the rigorous control of the relative proportions of respective inorganic and organic ingredients in the ECD bath is critical to the achievement of satisfactory results in the rate of metal film formation and the quality of the film so formed. During the use of the plating bath solution, the plating process may be affected by depletion of inorganic components and organic additives as well as by organic byproduct formation. The ECD bath chemistry therefore must be maintained by periodic replacement of a part or the entire ECD bath. It is therefore important to continuously or periodically monitor the concentrations of inorganic and/or organic components in the ECD bath, and responsively add respective components to the bath to maintain the composition of the bath in an effective state for the electrochemical deposition operation.

In electrochemical-based analysis of organic additive concentration in the ECD bath, the surface state of the working/counter/reference electrode changes with long term operation, due to contamination, corrosion, or re-crystallization of the electrode surface material, which causes drift in the measurement results. Corresponding recalibration or adjustment of the concentration analysis results therefore is required, which is time-consuming and complicated for onsite operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new method for one-point recalibration or adjustment of the concentration analysis results, to reimburse the drift in the measurement results based on one point testing and to provide a modified concentration analysis model with build-in drift reimbursement features.

Other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the ensuring disclosure and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in one aspect relates to a method for reducing measurement error in concentration analysis of electrolytic solutions, comprising:

-   -   (a) establishing an initial model for determining concentration         Y of a component of interest in electrolytic solutions based on         a measurable parameter X that is correlative to Y, wherein         correlation between X and Y in such initial model is expressed         as Y=f(X);     -   (b) providing a standard electrolytic solution that contains the         component of interest at a known concentration Y_(s);     -   (c) calculating a theoretical parameter value X_(s) for the         standard electrolytic solution, wherein X_(s)=f⁻¹(Y_(s));     -   (d) measuring the actual parameter value X_(o) of such standard         electrolytic solution;     -   (e) determining an adjustment factor e, wherein e=X_(s)−X_(o);     -   (f) constructing a revised model that provides Y=f(X+e) for         future concentration determination of the component of interest;         and     -   (g) optionally, repeating steps (b)-(f) for model revision on a         periodical or threshold basis.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrolytic solutions are copper electrochemical deposition solutions that contain copper sulfate, chloride, sulfuric acid, and optionally one or more organic additives selected from the group consisting of suppressor, accelerator, and leveler.

However, applications of the present invention are not limited to analysis of copper electrochemical deposition solutions, and it can be broadly employed for analysis of electrochemical deposition solutions that contain other metal species, such as aluminum, silver, gold, iridium, palladium, tantalum, titanium, chromium, cobalt, tungsten, tin, lead, etc., and other electrochemical deposition solutions that are free of any metal components.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for recalibrating a predetermined concentration analysis model, in which concentration Y of a target component in electrolytic solutions is determined by a measurable parameter X and a function Y=f(X).

Such method comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) providing a standard electrolytic solution that contains the         target component at a known concentration Y_(s);     -   (b) calculating a theoretical parameter value X_(s) for such         standard solution, based on Y_(s) and inverse of the function         Y=f(X);     -   (c) measuring the actual parameter value X_(o) of such standard         solution;     -   (d) determining an adjustment factor e, wherein e=X_(s)−X_(o);         and     -   (e) constructing a recalibrated concentration analysis model         that provides Y=f(X+e).

A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reducing measurement error in concentration analysis of electrolytic solution, comprising:

-   -   (a) establishing an initial model for determining concentration         Y of a component of interest in electrolytic solution based on a         measurable parameter X that is correlative to Y, wherein         correlation between X and Y in such initial model is expressed         as Y=f(X);     -   (b) providing a standard electrolytic solution that contains the         component of interest at a known concentration Y_(s);     -   (c) calculating a theoretical parameter value X_(s) for the         standard electrolytic solution, wherein X_(s)=f⁻¹(Y_(s));     -   (d) measuring the actual parameter value X_(o) of the standard         electrolytic solution;     -   (e) determining an adjustment factor e, wherein         ${e = \frac{X_{s}}{X_{0}}};$     -   (f) constructing a revised model that provides Y=f(X×e) for         future concentration determination of the component of interest;         and     -   (g) optionally, repeating steps (b)-(f) for model revision on a         periodical or threshold basis.

A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for recalibrating a predetermined concentration analysis model, in which concentration Y of a target component in electrolytic solution is determined by a measurable parameter X and a function Y=f(X), said method comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) providing a standard electrolytic solution that contains the         target component at a known concentration Y_(s);     -   (b) calculating a theoretical parameter value X_(s) for the         standard solution, based on Y_(s) and inverse of the function         Y=f(X);     -   (c) measuring the actual parameter value X_(o) of the standard         solution;     -   (d) determining an adjustment factor e, wherein         ${e = \frac{X_{s}}{X_{0}}};$     -   (e) constructing a recalibrated concentration analysis model         that provides Y=f(X×e).

Other aspects, features and embodiments of the present invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows five current response curves obtained under cyclic electric potentials for five electrolytic solutions, which contain copper ions at the same concentration and sulfuric acid at five different concentrations.

FIG. 2 shows an initial calibration curve that correlates sulfuric acid concentrations with the integrated areas of selected current peaks in the current response curves of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 compares the initial calibration curve of FIG. 2 with a first re-calibration curve that is obtained by re-correlating sulfuric acid concentrations with newly conducted measurements of the integrated peak areas, and a second re-calibration curve that is obtained by mathematically modifying the initial calibration equation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF

In an electrochemical analytical cell used for analyzing sample copper ECD solutions, a cyclic electrical potential is applied between a first and a second electrode, both of which are immersed in the sample copper ECD solution for cyclic voltammetry (CV) scan thereof. During the CV scan, various components contained in the sample solution undergo reduction and oxidation in a cyclic manner, resulting in a characteristic current response curve that contains multiple reduction and oxidation current peaks, which are correlated with the component concentrations in such sample solution. For example, concentration of copper and/or sulfuric acid in such copper ECD solution can be determined by analyzing the copper and/or hydrogen reduction/oxidation peaks.

Further, the characteristic current response curve of a sample ECD solution can be compared with the current response curves of one or more calibration solutions that contain the component of interest at known concentrations, for estimation of the concentration of such component of interest in the sample solution.

FIG. 1 shows the current response curves of five calibration solutions, as obtained under a cyclic electropotential that oscillates between −0.32 volt and +1.0 volt with a scan rate of about 300 mV/second. All the calibration solutions contain copper at the same concentration and the target component, i.e., sulfuric acid, at different concentrations. Specifically, the first calibration solution contains sulfuric acid at a concentration of about 8.22 g/L; the second calibration solution contains sulfuric acid at a concentration of about 9.42 g/L; the third calibration solution contains sulfuric acid at a concentration of about 10.10 g/L; the fourth calibration solution contains sulfuric acid at a concentration of about 11.22 g/L; the fifth calibration solution contains sulfuric acid at a concentration of about 12.68 g/L.

As shown in FIG. 1, the current response curves contain sharply distinguishable current peaks within the electrical potential range marked by the dotted rectangular box (approximately the copper oxidation potential range for Cu to become Cu⁺), which can be selected for sulfuric acid concentration mapping.

Subsequently, the integrated areas of the selected copper oxidation peaks in the current response curves of FIG. 1 are calculated. The known sulfuric acid concentrations of the calibration solutions are then plotted as a function of such integrated peak areas, to form a calibration curve that quantitatively correlates the integrated current peak areas with the sulfuric acid concentrations, as shown in FIG. 2. An empirical equation A is preferably constructed on the basis of such calibration curve, which correlates the integrated current peak area X (in nCoul) with the sulfuric acid concentration Y (in g/L) via the following function: Y=345.22·X ^(−0.974)

Equation A and the initial calibration curve as shown in FIG. 2 can be used for mapping the concentration of sulfuric acid in sample copper ECD solutions that contain copper at the same concentration as the calibration solutions and sulfuric acid at unknown and potentially different concentrations.

However, after an extended period of time, the current responses measured from the sample copper ECD solutions will start to drift, due to changes in the surface state of the working/counter/reference electrode caused by contamination, corrosion, or re-crystallization of the electrode surface material. Consequently, the current response drift will result in significant errors in the sulfuric acid concentration determination.

One method for reducing such measurement caused by current response drift is to reconstruct a new calibration curve and a new empirical equation B (as shown in FIG. 3), based on the same method as described hereinabove and using the same group of calibration solutions that have been originally used for constructing the initial calibration curve and the initial empirical equation A. In other words, a new and independent round of calibration measurements is carried out to provide a new calibration curve and a new equation B containing the new function: Y=494.69·X ^(−1.0436) which factors in the electrode surface state changes that have occurred during the initial measurement and the new measurement.

However, such complete reconstruction of the calibration curve and empirical equation is very time- and labor-consuming, and it significantly extended the down-time needed for system readjustment. Such extended down-time is particularly disadvantageous when the system requires periodic readjustments.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method for one-point re-calibration of the initial calibration curve and empirical equation, which requires only a single calibration test and provides a modified empirical equation that mathematically factors in the electrode surface state changes that have occurred since the initial measurement.

Specifically, a standard calibration solution that contains copper at the same concentration as the original calibration solutions and sulfuric acid (i.e., the target component) at about 9.90 g/L is provided. The known sulfuric acid concentration of 9.90 g/L is recorded as the standard sulfuric acid concentration Y_(s). Based on the initial empirical equation A and Y_(s), a standard integrated peak area, X_(s), is calculated by inverting equation A, as follows: $\begin{matrix} {X_{s} = \sqrt[{- 0.974}]{\frac{Y_{s}}{345.22}}} \\ {= 38.4015} \end{matrix}$

Subsequently, the actual integrated peak area, X_(o), is calculated by CV scanning such standard calibration solution to obtain a characteristic current response curve (not shown) of such solution and calculating the integrated area of the copper oxidation current peak. The actual integrated peak area X_(o) is about 42.392 nCoul.

Based on X_(s) and X_(o), an adjustment factor e is calculated as: e=X _(s) −X _(o)=38.4015−42.392=−3.99048

Such adjustment factor e is employed to mathematically construct a modified equation C based on the initial equation A, while equation C provides: Y=345.22(X−3.99048)^(−0.974)

A modified calibration curve (C) reflecting such modified equation C is shown in FIG. 3, in comparison with the initial calibration curve (A) and the new calibration curve (B) obtained by complete recalibration. It is evident that the modified calibration curve (C) closely maps the curve (B), indicating that the mathematically constructed equation C provides measurement results consistent with the empirically constructed equation B.

The one-point re-calibration method as described hereinabove can be generalized for modifying any initial concentration analysis model that correlates the concentration of a component of interest Y with a measurement parameter X, which can be the integrated peak area, as in the specific example described hereinabove, or any other variables that are correlative with the concentration of the component of interest and that can be measured from the sample electrolytic solution, including but not limited to, current peak height, plating/stripping potential, plating/stripping current, etc.

When the initial concentration analysis model describes the correlation between the concentration of the component of interest Y and the measurable parameter X as Y=f(X), the one-point re-calibration method of the present invention provides a modified concentration analysis model that defines Y=f(X−e) with an adjustment factor e.

Such adjustment factor e is obtained by providing a standard calibration solution that contains the component of interest at a known concentration Y_(s), calculating a theoretical parameter value X_(s) based on inverse of the function provided by the initial concentration analysis model, i.e., X_(s)=f¹(Y_(s)), measuring the actual parameter value X_(o) for such standard calibration solution, and determining the difference between X_(s) and X_(o) (i.e., e=X_(s)−X_(o)).

Alternatively, the modified concentration analysis model may define Y=f(X×e) with an adjustment factor e that is determined by the ratio between X_(s) and X_(o) (i.e., e=X_(s)/X_(o)).

When cyclic voltammetry is employed for the concentration analysis, any anomaly in the shapes and/or magnitudes of various current peaks contained in the current response curves of the sample solutions constitutes a good indicator of electrode surface state changes. Therefore, the current response curves of the sample solutions can be continuously or periodically reviewed for determining the necessity of re-calibration or system adjustment. For example, the analysis protocol may be designed to responsively initiate a re-calibration cycle when changes in the height of certain current peaks reach a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, the analysis protocol may be designed to provide periodic re-calibration of the concentration analysis model, according to the method described hereinabove.

While the ensuing description is primarily directed to an electrochemical deposition (ECD) system for copper deposition, it will be recognized that the methodology of the invention are not thus limited, but rather generally extend to and encompass the determination of analytes in fluid media. For example, the invention is readily applicable to other ECD process applications, including deposition of aluminum, silver, gold, iridium, palladium, tantalum, titanium, chromium, cobalt, tungsten, etc., as well as deposition of alloys and deposition of amalgams such as solder.

Examples of additional applications of the invention other than ECD plating of semiconductor device structures include analysis of reagents in reaction media for production of therapeutic agents such as pharmaceutical products, and biotechnology applications involving the concentrations of specific analytes in human blood or plasma. It will therefore be appreciated that the invention is of broad application, and that the ECD system and method described hereafter is but one of a myriad of potential uses for which the invention may be employed.

While the invention has been described herein with reference to specific aspects, features and embodiments, it will be recognized that the invention is not thus limited, but rather extends to and encompasses other variations, modifications and alternative embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is intended to be broadly interpreted and construed to encompass all such other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments, as being within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A method of analyzing concentration of a component of interest in an electrolytic solution, said method comprising: (a) establishing an initial model for determining concentration as a function of a measurable parameter; (b) providing a standard electrolytic solution that contains the component of interest at a known concentration; (c) calculating the theoretical value for the measurable parameter from the function; (d) measuring the actual parameter of the solution; (e) determining an adjustment factor based on the theoretical and actual parameters; and (f) constructing a revised model that calculates the concentration as a function of the parameter as adjusted by the adjustment factor.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps (b)-(f) to revise the model.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said repeating is conducted on a periodical or threshold basis.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrolytic solution comprises electrochemical deposition solution containing one or more metal components.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said metal components are selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, gold, iridium, palladium, tantalum, titanium, chromium, cobalt, tungsten, tin, and lead.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment factor is determined as the difference between the theoretical calculated value of the parameter and the measured actual parameter value, and wherein the adjustment factor is added to the measurable parameter in constructing the revised model.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrolytic solution contains organic and inorganic components.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrolytic solution comprises copper electrochemical deposition solution.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said copper electrochemical deposition solution contains copper sulfate, chloride and sulfuric acid.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said copper electrochemical deposition solution further comprises one or more organic additives selected from the group consisting of suppressors, accelerators, and levelers.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the component of interest is sulfuric acid.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the component of interest is copper.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurable parameter is obtained by immersing first and second electrodes in the electrolytic solution, applying a cyclic electrical potential between the first and second electrodes, and analyzing current response of the electrolytic solution.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the current response of the electrolytic solution contains one or more current peaks, and wherein said measurable parameter is the integrated area of one of said current peaks.
 15. The method of claim 1, as conducted in an electrochemical deposition process.
 16. A method of operating an electrochemical deposition process including an electrochemical deposition bath containing electrolytic solution, said method comprising: analyzing concentration of a component of interest in the electrolytic solution, comprising: (a) establishing an initial model for determining concentration as a function of a measurable parameter; (b) providing a standard electrolytic solution that contains the component of interest at a known concentration; (c) calculating the theoretical value for the measurable parameter from the function; (d) measuring the actual parameter of the solution; (e) determining an adjustment factor based on the theoretical and actual parameters; and (f) constructing a revised model that calculates the concentration as a function of an adjusted parameter, wherein the adjusted parameter is equal to the measurable parameter plus the adjustment factor, and wherein the adjustment factor is determined as the difference between the theoretical parameter value and the actual parameter value; and adjusting composition of the bath in accordance with the revised model.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the electrochemical deposition process comprises a copper electrochemical deposition process.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the component of interest is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid and copper.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the electrochemical deposition process comprises an electrochemical deposition process for depositing a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, gold, iridium, palladium, tantalum, titanium, chromium, cobalt, tungsten, and alloys and amalgams containing one or more of the foregoing.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein said adjusting composition of the bath in accordance with the revised model, comprises addition of one or more components to the bath to maintain composition of the bath in an effective state for electrochemical deposition operation. 